After protests over the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd turned violent, Gov. Doug Ducey issued a declaration of emergency that includes an 8 p.m. nightly curfew that will extend through Friday.
Ducey said the curfew was a tool to help police prevent rioting and looting.
“At the request of local leaders and in coordination with state and local law enforcement, I’m issuing a statewide Declaration of Emergency and curfew starting at 8 p.m. tonight and effective for one week,” the governor said. “This gives law enforcement an additional tool to prevent the lawlessness we’ve seen here and in cities nationwide. Police will be equipped to make arrests of individuals who are planning to riot, loot or cause damage and unrest.”
The statewide curfew starting Sunday night will be released each morning at 5 a.m. and will run through the morning of Monday, June 8, unless extended.
Saturday night not only saw hundreds protesting in downtown Phoenix, but another contingent of looters vandalizing and looting the valley’s shopping centers.
Police declared the downtown protests an “unlawful assembly” Saturday night which granted them the right to arrest anyone who refused to leave.
In Scottsdale, looters smashed out the windows of dozens of retail stores before stealing merchandise.
